Ang Pahayagan

AURORA — The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) has reaffirmed its partnership with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to enhance programs promoting the welfare, participation, and empowerment of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in and around the Casiguran-based ecozone.

 In a recent meeting between APECO President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV and NCIP Region III Director Atty. Roman A. Antonio, both agencies agreed to strengthen coordination on several key initiatives, including the establishment of an Indigenous Peoples Cooperative, the formulation of a Joint Management Agreement (JMA) with the local IP community, and the facilitation of the Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) process for the delineation of ancestral domains.

“We are taking deliberate steps to ensure that development in APECO is both participatory and respectful of Indigenous rights. Our partnership with NCIP anchors this commitment on transparency, shared decision-making, and equitable growth,” Atty. Taway said.

At the center of this collaboration is APECO’s plan to form an Indigenous Peoples Cooperative that will allow IP communities to directly participate in ecozone-related economic activities. The proposed cooperative aims to:

·Promote livelihood and microenterprise initiatives rooted in traditional knowledge and sustainable practices;

·Provide access to training, capacity-building, and financial literacy programs;

 ·Serve as a platform for cooperative participation in ecozone development projects; and

·Strengthen the collective voice of IPs in local economic planning.

The cooperative is expected to become a vital partner of APECO in implementing social enterprise projects and managing community-based ventures within designated ecozone areas.

Complementing this initiative is the proposed Joint Management Agreement (JMA), which will institutionalize co-stewardship between APECO and the IP communities. The JMA seeks to establish clear guidelines for shared responsibilities in land management, resource utilization, and benefit-sharing to ensure that Indigenous interests are safeguarded alongside APECO’s sustainable development goals.

APECO emphasized that while Republic Act No. 10083 grants it administrative supervision and control over Parcel 2 of the San Ildefonso Peninsula, this does not imply ownership or displacement of ancestral lands. “The position of the new management is that this overlap does not mean APECO will be taking over the land. The law does not vest ownership but merely provides administrative supervision for development purposes,” APECO clarified in its letter to Director Antonio.

The agency also requested NCIP’s assistance in facilitating the FPIC process in preparation for the delineation and demarcation activities to be undertaken by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Aurora. These activities aim to determine the precise boundaries of the ecozone and identify Indigenous settlements that will take part in future consultations.

Under the “Bagong APECO” reform agenda, the strengthened collaboration with NCIP marks a new era of governance focused on restoring trust among stakeholders, fostering unity, and ensuring that Indigenous communities are integral to APECO’s development vision.

“Bagong APECO is not just about infrastructure or investment—it’s about building a model of inclusive growth where no community is left behind,” Atty. Taway emphasized.

Meanwhile, APECO Business Development and Marketing Division Manager Gene Angelo P. Ferrer recently joined the Komite ng Sama-Samang Pag-Unlad (KSSP) meeting with Director Antonio, Ayta Ambala Chieftain Christine Frenilla, and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). APECO intends to model its future JMA after SBMA’s joint management arrangement with its Indigenous community. (Jason de Asis)

TOP 📸: STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIP — APECO President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV, together with Business Development and Marketing Division Manager Gene Angelo P. Ferrer, meets with NCIP Region III Director Atty. Roman A. Antonio to reinforce collaboration in advancing programs that promote the welfare and empowerment of Indigenous Peoples in Casiguran, Aurora. (Jason de Asis)